Google Cloud eliminates all costs associated with data transfer to other providers. The aim is to set an example for fairer cloud practices.

Google Cloud announces a significant change to its terms and conditions: If you want to change provider, you no longer have to pay anything. In a blog, the cloud provider announces that it will waive transfer costs if companies want to transfer all of their data to another provider. The policy change is rolling out globally.

Google says it wants to give companies complete freedom to decide which cloud platform they prefer. Charging customers who want to switch to another provider additional costs does not fit into this philosophy. “Eliminating data transfer fees when switching cloud providers will make it easier for customers to switch cloud providers. However, it does not solve the fundamental problem that prevents many customers from working with their preferred cloud provider in the first place: restrictive and unfair licensing practices,” Google’s blog says.

Golden cage

“Vendor lock-in” is now a well-known concept in the IT industry. Providers lure customers into their ecosystem with initially attractive prices, but once the customer is in the network, hidden additional costs and regulations emerge. In the long run, it becomes difficult for the customer to switch, both financially and practically, and they get stuck in the ecosystem.

The European cloud association CISPE criticized such practices in a research report last summer. “Restrictive” licensing conditions cost European companies billions of euros each year that they do not have to pay, the report says. Microsoft in particular is explicitly held responsible for deliberately making the operation of its software on external platforms significantly more expensive than on its own Azure cloud, something that Microsoft has now backed off from.

Actions correspond to words

Google itself is not averse to the occasional swipe at Microsoft. These words only have power if you lead by example. This decision by Google will increase pressure on Microsoft (and AWS) to rethink their rules as well. Although Microsoft may be willing to make some concessions to avoid further antitrust lawsuits.

Google Cloud’s Samaritan Mercy has its limitations. Only customers are not charged any transfer fees already transfer your data in one go. For companies that have mastered the art of multicloud and regularly move smaller amounts of data, Google will continue to charge a small fee of eight to twelve cents per terabyte, with up to 200 GB per month free.